How to Get Out of a Funk (5 Ways to Stop Being Depressed) (2023)

Have you ever been in a ragingly dangerous bad mood?

A slumpy, frumpy, dumpy funk?

This ain’t the good kind of funk that gives you a sick beat and great dance moves. Nope, I’m talking about the burnt-out, stressful funk that hits even the best of us on low days.

You know, when you just can’t snap out of it? Here’s how to stop being depressed:

A few weekends ago, I came home from a coffee meeting in a poopy mood. I just felt blah. I tried reading, making myself a bowl of delicious cereal, and watching some Netflix. Nothing. Nada Zilch. I couldn’t shake it.

It got me thinking… why do we have moods? I did some digging and discovered some fascinating science on how our brain and body is tied to our emotions. Specifically:

There is a science behind your moods.

I found this incredibly helpful, because if we understand our moods, we can know where they come from and how to fix them.

• You’re not crazy! Feel like your moods are out of control? There is a chemical explanation.
• You’re not alone. The way we feel moods and process emotions is universal, and we can study it to find patterns.
• You are in control. It might feel like our emotions run wild inside of our brain and body, but when approached in a specific way they can be controlled.

Happy vs. Unhappy

Before I get into the science of moods, I do have to say that “bad’” moods aren’t bad. They might not be pleasant, but we can understand a lot about the Science of Happiness from our unhappiness. In the words of Dolly Parton:

If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.

From our research on the psychology of happiness, we know that people who better understand their dark side, or can explore their emotions, benefit in tremendous ways. So, let’s explore:

The Science of Moods

…and how to snap out of a funk! I want to explain the different chemicals that affect your bad mood and how to harness them:

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Serotonin: The feeling of calm

Sometimes bad moods and funks can happen when we feel listless, out of control, or overly emotional. This can come from being around a toxic person, or feeling overwhelmed with our schedule or work projects. Enter: serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps us feel balanced and contributes to our well-being or state of calm. Of the approximately 40 million brain cells, most are influenced either directly or indirectly by serotonin–including those related to mood, sexual desire, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, and social behavior. Yup, when your serotonin is out of whack, it feels like everything is out of whack. Some research suggests that an imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression.

Serotonin Boost: One of the best ways to get your serotonin pumping naturally is the process of positive reminiscing. Simply reflecting on your past achievements or thinking about positive memories produces serotonin. Look through your photo albums on your phone or scroll through old Facebook pictures. At home, grab your journal and recall your happiest moments. You might notice after a few minutes your body desires a long, deep breath, and you begin feeling like “It’ll all be okay.” When I tried this, I was shocked at how fast I began feeling more in control and calm. That’s the serotonin working its magic!

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Dopamine: The feeling of pleasure.

After a long day at work or really tough meetings, I can feel drained. But mostly, I sometimes feel bored, understimulated, and blah. That “blah” mood is a lack of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released when we feel pleasure, get a reward, or receive a gift. It’s the chemical that makes you feel like it’s your birthday every day! What’s even more important is that dopamine helps us regulate our emotional responses. This is super important:

When we are in a bad mood, we often have trouble controlling our reactions.

This is where dopamine comes to the rescue! It is also the basis for hope. Dopamine engages our brain to spot potential rewards, and to take action to move toward them. In other words, dopamine is our biggest motivator for fighting bad moods. Research has found that dopamine deficiency results in Parkinson’s Disease, and people with low dopamine activity may be more prone to addiction. This is a serious little chemical!

Dopamine Boost: There are lots of ways to create pleasure for your mind and body. My favorite PG one is creating a bucket list! I LOVE bucket lists, because they harness the best side of human behavior–hope, curiosity and pleasure. Check out our Ultimate Bucket List Guide, or if you already have one, dust it off and start planning how to complete your first item.

Can I just make a special note here… stop waiting! You have so many amazing things left to do in your life. Your time is NOW.

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Testosterone: The feeling of power

Testosterone is the hormone of power, strength and capability. For both men and women, testosterone can completely change the way you feel. Now, testosterone is a tricky one–too much and it can make you feel aggressive (and very horny). Too little, and you feel powerless, lethargic, and… limp (both physically and emotionally). Some crazy facts about testosterone:

1. Men given testosterone lost belly fat.
2. Stock traders get a testosterone spike on days when they make an above-average profit.
3. When playing sports, a winner’s testosterone levels increase–and fans’ hormone levels also get a boost! In a small group of 21 men watching a Brazil versus Italy World Cup match, the Brazil fans’ testosterone levels increased after their team won, but the Italy fans’ testosterone levels fell.
4. Males have longer right pointer fingers than women. This has been found even in other five-fingered creatures, such as rats. Scientists have found that this is correlated to fetal exposure to testosterone. The higher your testosterone level before birth, the lower your pointer-finger-to-ring-finger ratio.

Basically, I want to know…

How long is your finger?

Sounds dirty, doesn’t it? Now, now, get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about moods here! Here’s a photo of my hand.For some reason, it feels weirdly intimate posting a picture of my hand. Oh well!

Special Note: Long-lasting funks that are affecting your sleep, appetite, or relationships might be more serious. If you think you might be experiencing depression, please seek help from a medical doctor. Here are some online depression resources for you as well. Remember, you don’t have to struggle alone.

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#4: Oxytocin: The feeling of love

Oxytocin is a little hormone nicknamed the ‘“cuddle hormone” because it makes us feel loved and connected. It plays a major role in childbirth and childcare, helping mothers and fathers feel connected (and, therefore, responsible for their babies). But it also affects an incredible amount of behavioral tendencies. Specifically, researcher Inga Neumann found that oxytocin changes “pro-social behaviors” and emotional responses for relaxation, trust between people, and psychological stability.

Ding, ding, ding!

Oxytocin is crucial to understanding our moods. Oxytocin primarily is produced and affected by the people around us. Interestingly, one study found that new lovers have higher oxytocin levels than single people for the first six months of their relationship. Oxytocin is high because our mind and body are working together to make a connection. This is why other people can change our moods so greatly—either flipping us into a happy state or spreading toxicity to our mental state.

Oxytocin Boost: The best way to tap into your oxytocin is by tapping into your support system. The moment you are in a bad mood, think about the person who can boost your oxytocin. Specifically, who’s the person who makes you laugh? Who’s the best listener? Call in the team! Not only are moods contagious (we teach this in our Happiness Course), but they also can produce that warm and fuzzy feeling of belonging in you!

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Endorphins: The feeling of excitement

Endorphins are released by our body naturally in response to pain and stress. Endorphins are crucial to quelling our anxiety and are our body’s natural way of fighting the blues. The more endorphins we have coursing through us, the less we suffer from pain, the easier we are able to modulate our appetite, and the better our immune system. Most importantly, with high endorphin levels, we suffer fewer negative effects from stress. If you are a runner or other athlete, you might be familiar with endorphins because they are pumped during and after a workout—making us feel like we are on a high or euphoric.

Hate exercise? No worries! Certain foods, such as chocolate and chili peppers, also cause a boost in endorphins. The release of endorphins upon ingestion of chocolate might explain why many people crave chocolate during times of stress.

Endorphin Boost: Move it! Yes, you can eat chocolate and chili peppers, but exercise has many other positive benefits. And you don’t have to hit the gym—dancing to your favorite music, going on a walk or throwing the frisbee all are great ways to get your blood and endorphins pumping.

Here’s the Deal: We can’t prevent bad moods from happening, but we can tap into our natural response to stress and try to harness it. This post is the very tip of the iceberg. There are so many ways to change and modify your moods. But it is a good start! Next time you are in a funk or bad mood, try one of the following:

• Look through old pictures
• Create or update your bucket list
• Call your favorite friend
• Get moving to your favorite tunes